Jenny Dolfen

To care

The boys that care. 💙

I also made an alternative version of Kaladin with blue eyes. The uniform he wears is the Highmarshal kit from the later books, so he'd be blue-eyed more often than not, but I love him so much with brown eyes - and there are some small stretches there where his eyes are back to brown, so I’m calling the brown-eyed version the official one. ^^

And well, I made a little ...

To care - sketch

(Mildest of spoilers for Oathbringer/Wind and Truth)

Caring is a huge topic in the Stormlight Archive. In Rhythm of war, I loved a line Hesina, Kaladin’s mother, says to his father:

“Your son is a soldier, Lirin. A soldier who inherited his father’s determination, skill, and compassion. You tell me honestly. Who would you rather have out there fighting? Some crazed killer who enjoys it, or the boy you trained to care?”

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All six: Szeth finished!

… and for all I based him on a German actor, he ended up looking just a little bit like my brother-in-law. 😳 So, apparently, very German? The voice actor on Graphic Audio also employs a slight German-ish accent for him, as far as I can tell (don’t laugh, I’m really bad at this), so that seems to be a pattern.

Six fanarts: Rysn and Navani

I can finally proclaim that my iPad no longer turns Rysn into Ryan. 😂

I'm not too happy with her; I totally have no image in my head for Rysn, and don’t care much for her, so it was hard to pin her down. Navani did not turn out like I imagine her, but she's sufficiently spectacular, so she can pass. I loosely based her off actress Tia Carrere, who’s got the right age for her now.

I'm really looking forward to Szeth. I rarely have a character in my head very clearly while r...

Six fanarts: Rock

Funnily, I had no image in my head for Rock. Intellectually, I knew it was a combination of Māori, red hair, and a weird shave, but it took this artwork to solidify that in my head - but now, he could not have looked any other way.

So, Rysn next, huh? You guys are really giving me a workout here. ;)

Six fanarts: Teft

Here's Teft, our favourite gruff sergeant-turned-bridgeman-turned-sergeant! Next up is Rock. Is it weird that I see him similar to a Māori? Something about the way the Unkalaki language works sometimes…

Portrait - the Lopen

"Oh. Oh. Question for you! What did the one-armed Herdazian do to the man who stuck him to the wall? - Nothing. The Herdazian was 'armless."

Lopen is one of my absolute favourite supporting characters from the Stormlight Archive. He's good for a lot of comic relief, often containing surprising wisdom.

For his likeness, I swiped the face of Jeremie Frimpong, Dutch wing-back who played a huge role in Bayer Leverkusen winning the championship last season, and who, like Lope...

I know you were expecting something refined…

… sorry. 😂

I've gone crosseyed over the most recent piece and needed to unwind a little… so I thought to make good on that threat about drawing Shallan and Kaladin in the style of Helen Oxenbury, in "We're Going on a Bear Hunt".

After spending a week on a sketch (and scrapping it eight times), it was nice to do a fully coloured piece in half an hour. I'm absolutely doing something wrong, lol.

Do you know the original "We're Going on a Bear Hunt"? It was ...

"I accept this journey" - BIG Wind and Truth Spoilers!! (Sketch is somewhat safe)

So, I’m finally processing the last book of the Stormlight Archive series. Do not read on if you want to avoid spoilers!! And beware, they're massive. I got that one halfway through WaT.

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"Thank you, the Wind said. Herald.

“Kaladin,” Syl said. “Your eyes.”

“What about them?”

“Dark brown,” she whispered, her hand raised to touch his face. “Like they used to be.”

Kaladin smiled, then t...

Chasm journey

"Have you ever asked yourself if there’s a simpler explanation? Could it be that people don’t like you, not because you’re darkeyed, but because you’re just a huge pain in the neck?"

My daughter absolutely abhors enemies to lovers stories. Fortunately, this is a classic case of hate-each-others-guts to find-each-other-hot-but-silently-agree-they'd-be-terrible-for-each-other situation. 😂

I now want to do character relationship pictures like this both for Shallan...

Kaladin and Shallan - chasm trip sketches

The second book, Words of Radiance, holds a very special place in my heart. Especially the "chasm trip" chapters, where Kaladin and Shallan go from driving each other up the chasm walls to saving each other's lives, and opening up their heart to the other in a way they’ve never done with anyone. I wouldn’t say I ship them - I love Adolin too much for that - but their dynamic is just so beautiful.

Bridge run

Arrows zipped past Kaladin, killing the other two men in the front line with him. Several other arrows smacked into the wood around him, one slicing open the skin of his cheek.

 He screamed. In horror, in shock, in pain, in sheer bewilderment. Never before had he felt so powerless in a battle. He’d charged enemy fortifications, he’d run beneath waves of arrows, but he’d always felt a measure of control. He’d had his spear, he’d had his shield, he could fight b...

2025-03-03 07:28:50 +0000 UTC View Post

A bridge run, and a wound in an inappropriate place

Yup, I’m down to drawing two scenes at the same time. 😅

1: Kaladin’s first bridge run, from The Way of Kings. I spent two days on the underlying Clip Studio Paint file, but this was a pain even WITH it - I couldn’t have pulled it off without!

2: A scene from Oathbringer - some spoilers follow, also a minor one from Rhythm of War.

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Shallan has been wo...

"Fashion?!”

Those two boys. 😁

It's funny how different fandoms bring out different looks in me. Tolkien is pastelly. Critical Role is comicky. And Stormlight Archive is high contrast with realistic lighting. I'm extremely pleased with how that worked out here.

I've put together a little 2025-02-26 08:52:44 +0000 UTC View Post

Mini brushset: Crisp and Watery for Procreate

Here's a little mini set to create both crisp and watery watercolour effects in Procreate! It contains everything to do the effects as in the image above. No paper background or lineart brushes included, but the Ultramarine Tex Darkener can serve as a paper texture!

"Fashion?"

“Fashion?” Kaladin asked. He hadn’t intended to speak, but it came out anyway. “You’re spending the highstorm looking for new clothing?”

Adolin snapped the book closed. “But you only wear uniforms,” Kaladin said, confused.

“Do you need to be here, bridgeboy?” Adolin demanded. “Surely nobody is going to come for us during a highstorm, of all things.”

Brandon Sanderson, Words of Radiance

Aaah, the early Adolin/Kaladin in...

Four lifetimes (finished)

I'm totally in love with the contradictions here. The highly-decorated, uniformed (if scruffy) war hero crying in his mother's arms. And of course the COMPLETELY oblivious Syl celebrating a moment that only holds a hint of being potentially joyful -- once Kaladin's parents have overcome their shock of learning their son is alive, wears an officer's uniform, AND has slave brands on his forehead.

Also, it's a little scary that Kaladin here is the exact age of my son.

Lineart request: Orym Nouveau

For Catherine! If you have any lineart of mine you'd like to give a shot, let me know. :) We'll just do it like this!

 Also, Stormlight Archive prints are available in my shop! The coupon codes apply. <3

Four lifetimes (very minor spoiler book 3)

She raised her gloved safehand to her lips, gaping, and the tray slipped down in her other hand, tumbling bandages to the floor. Shockspren, like pale yellow triangles breaking and re-forming, appeared behind her. She dropped the tray and reached to the side of Kaladin’s face with a soft touch. Syl zipped around in a ribbon of light, laughing.

Kaladin couldn’t laugh. Not until it had been said. He took a deep breath, choked on it the first time, then finally forced it o...

2025-02-10 09:00:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Shallan's … tabletop carvings

As Kaladin settled into the seat, he noted some of the scratched-in sketches Shallan had done with a knife on the tabletop. One was a rather unflattering picture of him in oversized boots.

(The Rhythm of War)

I had to. 😂

Next up: some more serious art. Family reunion with Kaladin's parents, anyone? I‘m already researching nineteenth century spectacles.

Shallan's sketchbook

Minor spoiler for books 2 and on: Shallan develops multiple personalities for multiple situations, and their taste in men differs, making matters a little complicated sometimes. 😂 They sometimes seep in, or even take over, when she sketches. The personality with a lot of interest in Kaladin is Veil, sketched top right.

A fine depiction of the young captain

Shallan paused, looking at the doodle she’d been doing. Actually, it was a bit more complex than a doodle. It was … kind of a full sketch of Kaladin’s face, with passionate eyes and a determined expression.

“May I?” Jasnah said, holding out her hand for Shallan’s notebook. She relinquished it. “A fine depiction of the young captain,” Jasnah said. “I see … three lines of notes here? After you were pointedly instructed to take the minutes.”

...

2025-02-07 18:18:07 +0000 UTC View Post

The trial - finished

Very happy with how this turned out, especially the audience in the back - that really was a quick way of doing a crowd! If only all crowds were blue-glowing honourspren. 😁

Adolin is such a sweetheart. I'd been trying to remember who he reminded me of, particularly in this pic, and my husband took once glance at him and said, "He looks like Rhun!” - who was his Star Wars RPG character almost thirty years ago. And - yes. There’s definitely parallels. Rhun was a total sweetheart to...

The trial (major plot spoilers for books 3 and 4)

Don't read on if you’re reading the series and want to preserve a moment of absolute jaw-drop. The picture doesn’t spoil anything by itself, so you’re safe there.

Adolin pulled free and crossed the stage. He supported Maya, putting her arm across his shoulder to hold her up as he would a wounded soldier. She clung to him, stumbling as she struggled to remain upright. Even as she did, however, she whispered it again.

“We chose,” she said, her voice ragged as i...

2025-02-04 08:19:38 +0000 UTC View Post

The Dog and the Dragon

First off, a HUGE thank you to all your kind words and support yesterday - that helped a world, meant the day, made my ton. Or the other way round. <3

"It won't be like that for me," Kaladin said. You told me it would get worse."
"It will," Wit said, "but then it will get better. Then it will get worse again. Then better. This is life, and I will not lie by saying every day will be sunshine. But there will be sunshine again, and that is a different thing...

2025-02-01 07:12:57 +0000 UTC View Post

This has been coming... (Patreon dial-back)

Hey my wonderful people, I've told you that I'm going through a difficult time right now, and that there's a whole lot of mess in my life I have to take care of. It won't be done in a week, or a month, or even a year either. Because of that, I can't devote as much energy to my Patreon as I want to, and as you deserve. I will keep creating because that's what I do and what keeps me sane right now, and I realise that what I'm creating is not what a lot of people want to see, but there's no way ...

Mental health (The Dog and the Dragon)

So, one of the reasons why Stormlight Archive hit such a huge nerve with me is the way it treats mental health and illness. For some very personal reasons.

The year is 27 days old, and out of my family of four, three of us have been to doctors or in hospital for mental health emergencies. Not a good way to start the year. It's been a rough four weeks.

These books have helped. All of us. My daughter had already told me "The Dog and the Dragon" was her favourite chapter not just of ...

"I will protect even those I hate" - finished

This took WAY too long, wow. Most of it was fiddling with the king on the ground, and chickening out with the colouring stage. Funnily, once I did the Shardplate last night, it tied everything together when I'd thought it'd pull everything apart.

Explanation for those who haven't read the books and are NOT worried about spoilers (because here come tons):

The books are essentially about a near-apocalyptic event that sees a resurgence of the Knights Radiant, an ancient order of fi...

"I will protect even those I hate" - wip

The first time I drew Shardplate, I swore myself never to draw it again. Of course I broke that vow. Shardplate is a pain*, but boy, does it look cool.

*(as Kaladin can attest, especially if you’re punched in the gut with it)

Incredibly, I‘m almost through the fourth book, Rhythm of War, by now. The scenes I want to draw number a few dozen by now, lol.

I haven't watched all of this week's Critical Role thus far, but these last two episodes have been on absolute fire! I r...

"I will protect even those I hate"

“I’m sorry, Kal,” Moash said, stepping forward. “I should have made it quick at the start.”

The Words, Kaladin. That was Syl’s voice. You have to speak the Words!

I FORBID THIS.

YOUR WILL MATTERS NOT! Syl shouted. YOU CANNOT HOLD ME BACK IF HE SPEAKS THE WORDS! THE WORDS, KALADIN! SAY THEM!

“I will protect even those I hate,” Kaladin whispered through bloody lips. “So long as it is right.”

A Shardblade appeared in Moash’s hands.

...